LocationThe Duke of York Island Group (Duke of York Islands) is located between New Britain and New Ireland. Also known as "Duke of York Islands" or sometimes simply as the "Dukes". To the west is Rabaul.

Wartime HistoryIn middle of 1942 Japanese forces occupied the Duke of York Islands and undertook labor projects and farming. During 1944, the Duke of York Islands were attacked by Allied aircraft including fighters and bombers.

At the end of the Pacific War, the garrison was commanded by Colonel Yanagiya. In September 1945, after the official surrender of Rabaul, a group of Australian Army troops arrived in the Duke of Yorks Islands to accept the surrender of the Japanese, collect weapons and oversee the occupation.